Military Routes to Elite Status
Several US loyalty programs give elite status, not just a discount, to service members, veterans and often their spouses. These routes are some of the most reliable in travel. They don't depend on a match window, a 90-day challenge or a credit card annual fee. You verify your service once, and the tier is applied.
Military status is also a good foundation. A casino or hotel tier you hold through a military program is still a tier you hold, and it may qualify you for other programs' matches as long as you're submitting real, current status in your own name.
Below are the programs with confirmed military tiers, then the ones that offer discounts or perks but not status, and then the common mistakes.
Hotel programs
Wyndham Rewards: instant Gold
Wyndham's military page says active and retired military members, veterans and military spouses can instantly upgrade to Wyndham Rewards Gold and get a discount at participating hotels in the US and Canada. Members who already hold Gold, Platinum or Diamond keep their higher level. Wyndham's terms also describe 3,000 bonus points for eligible members who confirm military status. Wyndham includes US and Canadian military with active, reserve, veteran or retired status, and their spouses. There's also a priority military member services line.
How to use it: Confirm your status through Wyndham's "Confirm Your Military Status" page while logged in. Wyndham Gold is a mid-tier status, not a top one. Its value to you is mostly the tier itself and as a stepping stone.
Choice Privileges: Gold Elite
Choice Hotels' military program page describes Lifetime Gold Elite status at registration for active duty or reserve military, retired military, National Guard and Coast Guard members. It also mentions bonus points on your next stay after registering. Some current Choice marketing describes the benefit for veterans and spouses as limited-time Gold. Read the wording on Choice's page carefully to see which version applies to you.
Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt and IHG: rates, not status
The big hotel chains offer military rates at participating hotels, but we didn't find a standing program at any of them that grants elite status for military service. Hilton's military family rate, for example, is a discounted rate selected at booking. For status at these chains, military members use the same routes as everyone else: credit cards, status matches and earning nights.
Casino programs
Caesars Rewards: SALUTE card with Platinum
Caesars' SALUTE program gives eligible military members a Caesars Rewards card with an automatic upgrade to Platinum benefits. Caesars lists active duty, veterans, military spouses and dependents, National Guard, Reserves, retirees and surviving spouses, US and Canadian. Enrollment is in person at a participating Caesars Rewards resort with ID. Caesars lists active military IDs, Guard and Reserve IDs, retired IDs, DD214 and veteran ID cards as accepted.
Caesars Platinum includes benefits such as free parking at many locations and discounts. Caesars has also listed discounts on select Norwegian Cruise Line sailings among Platinum perks. Check the current Caesars Rewards benefits guide, because Caesars revises tier benefits every year.
MGM Rewards: Military & Veterans Program (Pearl)
MGM Resorts' Military & Veterans Program has been reported since launch to upgrade eligible US active duty, Guard, Reserve, retired military, veterans and spouses to Pearl. Pearl benefits include free self-parking at MGM properties and discounts. We couldn't open MGM's own program page while writing, so confirm the current tier and process at an MGM Rewards desk.
Car rental programs
The car rental companies offer military rates, especially for official travel. Where they offer status, it tends to come through partners rather than as a standing military tier:
- Hertz: offers military members free Gold Plus Rewards membership and military rates. Gold is Hertz's entry tier, not an elite one.
- Avis: WeSalute+ (formerly Veterans Advantage) members can get a free annual upgrade to Avis Preferred Plus, Avis's mid tier, plus rental discounts. WeSalute+ is a paid membership program, not a government benefit, so factor in its cost.
- National and Enterprise: we didn't find a standing military elite tier. Military members can use National's general status match like anyone else.
Military status as a foundation for matches
Military status counts as real status, so it can be the first step in a legitimate chain:
- Get the military tier (for example, Caesars Platinum through SALUTE).
- Use it where it's accepted. Some casino properties match competitors' cards in person, and a higher casino tier can unlock cruise offers. Matches like these are discretionary and change often. See Casino Status Matches and Cruises.
- Keep it honest. Submit your actual card, in your name, while it's current.
Military tiers usually sit in the middle of a program's ladder (Gold, Platinum, Pearl), so they rarely match into another program's top tier on their own.
What you'll need to verify service
Programs use different verification methods:
- Online verification through a third-party service (common for hotel and retail programs).
- In-person ID check at a rewards desk (Caesars, and typically MGM).
- Uploaded documents such as a DD214. Black out your Social Security number before uploading if the program allows it.
Spouses and dependents are included in some programs (Wyndham, Caesars) and not mentioned in others. Don't assume eligibility carries over between programs.
Step by step: claiming each benefit
Wyndham Gold 1. Create or log in to your Wyndham Rewards account. 2. Go to the military benefits page and choose "Confirm Your Military Status." 3. Complete verification. Wyndham's terms cover active, reserve, veteran and retired members and spouses. 4. Check that the tier shows as Gold before your next booking. Book direct with your member number attached so the tier applies.
Choice Privileges Gold Elite 1. Join Choice Privileges, or log in. 2. Complete the military registration form on the Choice Privileges Military page. 3. Choice has said tier changes can take several weeks. Register well before a planned stay.
Caesars SALUTE (Platinum) 1. Join Caesars Rewards (free) if you aren't already a member. 2. Visit the Rewards Center at a participating Caesars property. Caesars lists nearly 40 US resorts. 3. Bring an accepted military or veteran ID, or a DD214, plus photo ID. 4. You'll get the SALUTE card, and your account will show Platinum benefits.
MGM Military & Veterans Program 1. Join MGM Rewards. 2. Ask at an MGM Rewards desk about the Military & Veterans Program and what verification they accept. 3. Check that your account tier has changed before you depend on the parking or dining benefits.
FAQ
Can a spouse enroll if the service member isn't traveling? Some programs allow it. Wyndham and Caesars explicitly include spouses. Check each program's terms.
Does military status expire? It depends. Choice describes Lifetime Gold Elite for some groups. Other programs may revalidate periodically or tie the benefit to an active promotion.
Can I use a military tier for a status match? If a program accepts that tier as source status, yes. You're submitting real status you hold. Matches are always at the receiving program's discretion.
Do Reserve and Guard members qualify? At Caesars, MGM, Choice and Wyndham, the published eligibility lists include Reserve and Guard in some form. Check the specific wording.
Common mistakes
- Assuming every chain has a military tier. Most offer military rates, not status.
- Not linking the right account. Your military status attaches to the loyalty number you verify under. Use the account you actually book with.
- Ignoring in-person requirements. Caesars SALUTE has to be done in person. Plan it into a trip.
- Expecting top-tier perks. Military tiers are usually mid-level. Use them as a base and stack legitimate cards or matches on top.
- Paying a third party. Every military program here is free to join except WeSalute+, which is a paid membership. Nobody needs to "apply" military status for you.
Quick reference
| Program | Military tier | Who's eligible (summary) | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyndham Rewards | Gold (keep higher if held) | Active, retired, veterans, spouses (US & Canada) | Online verification |
| Choice Privileges | Gold Elite (lifetime for some groups) | Active, reserve, retired, Guard, Coast Guard; others per terms | Registration form |
| Caesars Rewards | Platinum (SALUTE) | Active, veterans, spouses, dependents, Guard, Reserve, retirees | In person with ID |
| MGM Rewards | Pearl (reported) | Active, Guard, Reserve, retired, veterans, spouses | Confirm at MGM |
| Avis (via WeSalute+) | Preferred Plus | WeSalute+ members | Through WeSalute+ |
Confirmed vs. uncertain
Confirmed from program pages: Wyndham's instant Gold upgrade and 3,000-point offer; Choice's Lifetime Gold Elite for listed service groups; Caesars SALUTE's Platinum upgrade, eligibility and in-person enrollment.
Reported or partly confirmed: MGM's Pearl tier through its military program (we couldn't open MGM's own page); Avis Preferred Plus through WeSalute+ (confirmed on WeSalute's pages, not Avis's); how Choice applies "lifetime" vs. "limited-time" Gold to veterans and spouses.
Sources
- Wyndham Rewards military benefits: https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/wyndham-rewards/military
- Wyndham military status confirmation: https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/wyndham-rewards/military/claim-perks
- Choice Privileges military program: https://www.choicehotels.com/choice-privileges/cp-military
- Caesars Rewards SALUTE card: https://www.caesars.com/myrewards/promotions/caesars-rewards-salute-card
- Caesars military discounts: https://www.caesars.com/deals/military-discounts
- WeSalute Avis offer: https://www.wesalute.com/brands/avis
- Lodging Magazine on MGM's military and veterans program: https://lodgingmagazine.com/mgm-resorts-adds-active-military-and-veterans-program/
Written by Emily for the Status Unlocked blog. Questions? unlocktravelstatus@gmail.com.